Wicklow marched through to the Tailteann Cup quarter-final following a comprehensive seven-point victory over a limited Leitrim in Glennon Brothers Pearse Park in Longford on Saturday evening.
In front of a small crowd and in stunning sunshine, Oisin McConville's charges produced a very impressive showing in the second half to overturn a 1-07 to 1-04 deficit at half-time and secure their place in the last eight of the competition.
Key to the victory for the Garden County was the performance of midfielder Dean Healy who asked relentless and unanswerable questions of the Leitrim defence with his hole-punching runs from the first minute to the last and the St Patrick’s man kicking four class points in the process.
Leitrim looked like they were in a good position when midfielder Barry McNulty lashed home past Mark Jackson for the game’s opening goal after 29 minutes to put them 1-06 to 0-04 ahead but when JP Nolan’s handpass across the square ended up in Nevin O’Donnell’s net two minutes later, Wicklow had a massive score considering they would have the benefit of a strong breeze in the second half.
The Garden County tore into Andy Moran’s Leitrim from the moment the second half started, Dean Healy firing over before Kevin Quinn added three points on the trot (one free) and Chris O’Brien flicked home a huge goal with nine on the clock to make it 2-08 to 1-08.
Leitrim were stunned and they made four substitutions in six minutes to try and stem the tide, but there was no stopping this Wicklow side with the wind at their backs and players such as Eoin Murtagh, Podge O’Toole, Healy and Jack Kirwan to name just a few giving massive performances.
"And look who it is... it’s that flippin Dean Healy again," was a line from the live commentary from the Shannonside radio station commentator in the pressbox at Pearse Park as the game neared its conclusion which should give a very good indication of the impact of the St Patrick’s clubman.
Oisin McConville’s bench played a major role in the second-half dominance, Jonny Carlin’s man-marking ability taking Barry McNulty out of the game and the Barndarrig clubman blocking a certain Leitrim goal at a key juncture, while Oisin McGraynor and Gearoid Murphy both grabbing fine scores.
A superb win for Wicklow. They’ll march on to the quarter-final with confidence high and hope filling their hearts. At times in that second half, they looked very impressive.
Leitrim: Nevin O'Donnell (0-02, 1 45); Cathal McHugh, Mark Diffley, Aidan Flynn; James Rooney, Radek Oberwan, Tom Prior; Donal Wrynn, Barry McNulty (1-3, 2f); Jack Foley, Mark Plunkett (0-01), Ryan O’Rourke (0-02); Ben Guckian, Darragh Rooney (0-04, 3f), Jack Flynn.
Subs: Shane Quinn for J Foley (temp, 35, reversed 36), Riordan O’Rourke for B. Guckian (47), Conor Reynolds for R Oberwan (48), Arek Oberwan for K Clancy (50), Darren Cox for T. Prior, 53), Shane Quinn for D. Wrynn (62).
Wicklow: Mark Jackson (0-02, 2fs); Tom Moran, Malachy Stone, Paddy O’Keane; Matt Nolan, Eoin Murtagh, Podge O’Toole (0-01); Dean Healy (0-04), Craig Maguire; Darragh Fee, Eoin D’Arcy, Jack Kirwan; Chris O’Brien (1-01), Kevin Quinn (0-03), JP Nolan (1-02).
Subs: Cillian McDonald for T. Moran (20, inj.), Jonny Carlin for C Maguire (39), Oisin McGrayno (0-01)r for E. D’Arcy (60), Gavin Fogarty for C. O’Brien (64), Gearoid Murphy (0-01) for JP Nolan (65).
Referee: Kieran Eannetta (Tyrone)
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